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Ryan Wu

This afternoon two friends in a row asked me to “help” receive a Yahoo Auction shopping SMS.

This scam is still around. Do not help anyone receive those texts, and do not log into Facebook from odd places (a library, an internet cafe, a random wireless network). That is how someone walks off with the password.

If you find the account has been taken, do this immediately.

1. Change the password

A stolen account happened for a reason. Whatever that reason was, the priority is keeping your friends from getting scammed too.

Steps:

Go to Facebook account settings

Choose “General” → “Password” and change it.

2. Log out every other session

Every computer or phone that logs in keeps a session so you are not kicked back to the login screen.

This step keeps the session you are on right now and cuts the rest.

Open “Account Security” → “Active Sessions” and log out every other device or session.

3. Raise the account’s security

This Playpcesor walkthrough covers two settings worth turning on:

  1. Require a remembered device when logging in from a new place
  2. Email yourself on login (so you know as soon as someone else gets in)

Protect the account. The same scam shows up on MSN, Google Talk, and Facebook.

If you get a “please help me” message, tell your friend.